Pärnu, an integrated health approach: from the planning to sustainable management of green areas
Edited on
04 December 2020By becoming a healthy city, Pärnu envisions improving access to green areas and increase the everyday use of public green spaces. The city wishes to develop a better network of roads so citizens can use them in their daily commute to work or school. Since Pärnu also struggles with seasonality, the city will need to be better adapted to this new context.
As part of the project, we have focused on the riverside area. Our desire is to find a solution together with the stakeholders on how to make the existing Jaanson health trail even more attractive, while maintaining the green areas next to it. Jaanson Trail, winding path along the left bank of the Pärnu River forms a single circle with the path on the opposite bank. Both are 4 km long, but still different in appearance.
Although this area is currently in use, we hope to find the best solutions to make this area better during the project. The final goal could be said that the wish would be to make the riverside area as attractive as we have been able to make the beach area in Pärnu. We have had some good project in the beach area and we would like to continue with the riverside.
City plans to create visitor infrastructure also on beach meadow area next to river to continue beach promenade, to introduce Pärnu city’s unique and variable landscape and nature values and also create more opportunities to visit beach side and spend time in open air.
It would certainly be mentioned that in the course of the project we hope to find more solutions on how to combine urban planning and health.
A good example of integrated and sustainable management of the protected green area of the beach can be found in our project for the introduction of urban cows.
This project is linked to the city's desire to generate a healthier environment through the protection of green areas, the promotion of active mobility and also the respect for biodiversity.
Restoration and public access of urban coastal meadow complex in Pärnu town, URBANCOWS
Project are is located on the coast of the city of Pärnu, the 375-hectare nature reserve area has about 250 hectares of semi-natural communities, mostly coastal meadows. The aim of the project was to restore the coastal meadows, coastal lakes and habitats of various protected species in the Pärnu coastal meadow nature reserve. This required clearing the meadow of rust, clearing the lagoons of sediment, restoring the natural water regime of the coastal meadow and improving the living conditions of protected species.
These meadows have historically been used as coastal pastures. Starting from 1960-70 grazing was restricted on beach meadows and by 1980 holding cattle had stopped. Change of usage caused the coastal meadows of Pärnu to rust and many protected species to be endangered. Reeds have been cut from meadows here and there, but this has not been enough to restore the coastal meadows in the same way. Coastal meadows are still most effectively cared for by animals.
It was from this need - to restore coastal meadows with the help of cattle and ensure consistency of suitable maintenence – thats why the city cows project was born. Grazing is the only way to preserve the species richness, uniqueness and delight of rare Pärnu coastal meadows.
The project had another important goal - to introduce the protected area to people and to build a tourist infrastructure (bird-watching towers on the beaches of Mai and Raeküla, information stands, a hiking trail with an observation platform at Tervise Paradiisi, etc.).
In order to discover the unique urban nature, a 600-meter hiking trail with a viewing platform has been built for visitors. Guests can walk directly over the bulls or flooded meadows and discover special and nature-protected plants. On the steep climbing trail you can enjoy nature with both a pram and a wheelchair.
The city cows project, started in January 2012 and came to an end on 31 December 2016.
Main outcomes of the project:
- As a result of the removal of old reeds and bushes, approximately 220 hectares of improved nature conservation status of coastal meadows;
- The conservation status of the birds nesting in the coastal meadow complex and the costal lake water quality improved. Improved habitat quality across a number of protected species, such as the Baltic toad (Dactylorhiza baltica), red-legged tilder (Tringa totanus) and matchmaker (Gallinago gallinago);
- Grazing infrastructure: four mobile shelters, 25 km electric shepherds, 2,1 km wooden permanent fences.
- Visiting infrastructure: information boards (14 pcs) introducing the values of the protected area and the City Cows project in the coastal meadow accesses, construction of two observation towers and a unique 660 m wooden boardwalk study trail
- Improved knowledge of local residents and city guests about the Pärnu coastal meadow nature reserve area and its value. Organizing 25 excursions in the coastal meadow, organizing seminars and outdoor study programs.
City will continue to take care of the tourism infrastructure and maintenance of the coastal meadows through grazing. As the city of Pärnu does not have its own cattle, the city rents coastal meadows to animal owners who graze their mountain cattle in the meadows from spring to summer.
Pärnu City cows project also received the 2016.Etonian Landscape Architecture Award in public space category.
Bycicle connections
In 2013 1,3 km bicycle connection was created next to nature reserve area to connect Mai living area to central beach area. The four-meter-wide trail is illuminated and is well-suited for health athletes and walkers. In the central part of the light traffic road there is a children's playground, coastal meadows by the trail, where you can get acquainted with exciting plant species and meet city cows, who keep the area free of reeds. There are benches and bike racks for Estonian designers in the recreation areas of the promenade.
In 2017-2018 4,6 km bicycle connection was created to make comprehensive bicycle connection along beach from river to city border which is continued to Lottemaa children theme park outside Pärnu city.
By Kärolin Nirk, local coordinator of Pärnu
Submitted by Marta Rofin-Serra on